Rapinoe, Spirit: Both exercising rights

Megan Rapinoe has the legal right to kneel during the national anthem, to protest her feeling about injustice in America. But the ownership of the Washington Spirit has the right to make its own statement.

The National Women’s Soccer League team’s owner moved the anthem up, Wednesday night, while the Seattle and Washington D.C. teams were in their locker rooms. That way it avoided Rapinoe drawing attention by kneeling during the flag ceremony.

Meanwhile, Rapinoe was angered by the characterization that she was trying to “hijack” the ceremony, calling it “incredibly distasteful.”

Clearly both sides think the other is distasteful.

Rapinoe isn’t required to stand during the anthem, simply because people want her to. Vice versa, the Spirit isn’t required to play the anthem when she’s there.